Student-operated U-46 radio station, longest-running in Illinois, celebrates 75 years

ELGIN, Ill. (WLS) -- School District U-46 in the west suburbs has the longest continuously running radio station in the state of Illinois.

The station, which has been around for 75 years, is 88.9. If you live within a 15-mile radius or so of downtown Elgin, you may have run across WEPS on your radio dial, and you have probably heard some of the local high school kids' voices.

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In both Spanish and English, WEPS has offered teenagers a chance to be on the radio in School District U-46 for three quarters of a century. In fact, the call letters stand for Elgin Public Schools, back before the district spread to several other neighboring towns.

"Radio is a little antiquated these days, but you still learn valuable skills, so we want to keep it alive," said Director Alec Barlow.

Barlow was in the radio program in high school. Now, he runs the station. They are celebrating the milestone anniversary with a party on Tuesday afternoon.

Students often record programs in their own schools to air on the station later. One group from Larkin High School meets a few times a week.

And while most of the students say they are not planning on careers in radio, they say it does teach them valuable skills.

"I was kind of shy about speaking in public," said senior Diana Absalon. "It makes you confident about yourself. It really does."

The Larkin group records an eclectic mix of programming, including live music performances. It is a chance for the students to experiment.

"It's good so far. I've been able to show my talents," said freshman Gabriel Mendez.

The halls of the studio are lined with pictures of the early days of the station, equipment they used in the early days of radio and CDs with music from bygone eras. And while many high schools have television programs these days, the teachers there believe in the importance of learning radio.

"They learn valuable skills in communications overall, and we've seen that translate to classes where students are more confident, asking more questions, because they're comfortable talking," Barlow said.

ABC7's John Garcia went to high school in District U-46. He visited the station, but he was not on the radio. He says that was only for the cool kids!